Appliance with variable speed control



- Nov. 3, 1970 G, PANKQW 3,538,341

APPLIANCE WITH VARIABLE SPEED CONTROL Filed Nov. 20, 1968 FIG.3.

SPEED CONTROL United States Patent ()1 ice 3,538,341 APPLIANCE WITH VARIABLE SPEED CONTROL Edmund G. Pankow, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 20, 1968, Ser. No. 777,365 Int. Cl. H02j 3/14 US. Cl. 307-38 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A variable power source and selector switch associated therewith. The power source forms an integral part of an appliance, for example, a cooking range, having an automatic stirrer energized by the variable power source. The appliance is also provided with an electrical outlet for other appliances such as drills, hand mixers and blenders. The selector switch serves to selectively establish an electrical circuit between the variable power source and the motor forming a part of the automatic stirrer or the electrical outlet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates, in general, to appliances and, more particularly, to a power source therefor.

The emphasis, at least to a certain degree, in appliance motor development, is one of speed control. It has become Well known, at least within recent years, that appliance motor speeds can be controlled by means of solid state circuitry, a separate circuit being required for each appliance. Due to the higher cost of such circuits, appliances utilizing them have not met with wholehearted acceptance by the consumer. 7

Accordingly, the general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved control for appliances.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a new and improved speed control built into an appliance, which speed control can be utilized for other appliances thereby rendering, the otherwise more expensive speed control, more economical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the above-cited objects are accomplished by the provision, in an electric range by way of example, a variable power source for controlling the motor speed of an automatic stirrer incorporated in the range. A conventional electrical outlet is conveniently mounted on the range and is connected through suitable leads and a selector switch, to the power source. The foregoing switch can be, as desired by the user, employed to selectively connect the power source to either the automatic stirrer motor or the electrical outlet. Such an arrangement, it will be appreciated, may also be incorporated in a hand held appliance.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when considered in view of the following detailed description and drawings, forming a part hereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a range incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, which is partly diagrammatical, of an automatic stirrer forming a part of 3,538,341 Patented Nov. 3, 1970 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, especially FIG. 1, reference character 10 designates generally a cooking range having a plurality of burners 11 adapted, in a conventional manner, to support cooking utensils, or vessels, such a vessel being indicated at 12. The vessel 12 is made of any non-magnetic material, for example, aluminum, thereby being compatible with automatic stirring devices employing magnetic coupling between the drive mechanism and the agitator.

A-n agitator structure 13 having a magnet support or member (not shown) is disposed within the vessel 12 where it is rotated by means of an electric motor 14, shown schematically in FIG. 2, and a permanent magnet 16 secured to the shaft 17 of the motor 14.

The motor 14 is adapted to be connected to line conductor L1 by means of a selector switch 18, actuatable by a control knob 19 carried by a back splasher panel 21 of the range 10. The selector switch in a second operable position thereof (indicated by dotted line) is also adapted, as desired by the user, to connect the conductor L1 to an electrical outlet 22 carried by the back splasher panel 21.

A motor speed control indicated in block form by reference character 23 may be of any well known type in the prior art for example, as shown and described in US. Pat. No. 3,209,228 or at p. 16 of Electrical Industries magazine, September 1963 edition. A speed control knob 24 serves to adjust a variable resistor of the speed control to thereby change the firing point of the solid state component thereof.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there has been disclosed an appliance having a motor and variable speed source therefor which source by means of a selector switch and an electrical outlet can be utilized to operate other appliances.

Since numerous changes may be made in the above described apparatus and dilferent embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in'the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. Cooking apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a drive system including a motor for an automatic stirring device,

means for providing an infinitely variable quantity of power,

an electrical outlet mounted on said cooking apparatus,

and switch means for selectively establishing an electrical circuit between either of said motor or said electrical outlet and said variable power means.

2. In combination,

an electrical outlet for receiving a plug of an electric appliance,

control means for supplying an infinitely variable quantity of power,

a motor, and

switch means for selectively connecting an electric circuit between either said outlet and said control means or between said motor and said control means.

3. Structure as specified in claim 2 including,

a permanent magnet forming the drive member of the the magnetic drive coupling for an automatic stirrer, said permanent magnet being driven by said motor.

4. In combination,

housing structure for an appliance,

an electrical circuit housed within said structure including a source of infinitely variable power,

means in said housing structure constituting a first load for said source of variable power therein,

means carried by said housing structure for electrically connecting said source of variable power to a second load which is external to said housing structure,

and switch means for selectively completing the electrical circuit through said variable power source to either said first load orwsaid connecting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner H. J. HOHAUSER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

